While no formal release date has yet been announced, an official statement was made today at the Nintendo DS Conference! Spring 2006 (ニンテンドーDS カンファレンス！ 2006.春」), promising that the eagerly awaited Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games will be released in Japan sometime before the year ends. This is the first press conference statement regarding the games since the original announcement of the games being in development.

Sadly, no further information on the games was forthcoming. As always, Bulbanews will keep a close eye on further developments.